Virtual Apps and Desktops (XenApp and XenDesktop) Architecture Poster

Posted on by virtualfeller

Note: For a deployment utilizing Citrix Cloud, use the XenApp and XenDesktop Service Architecture Poster

Focusing on Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops for many years, I hear certain questions over and over again:

  • Do you have an conceptual architecture drawing for a Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops on-premises deployment?
  • How about a hybrid-cloud deployment?
  • What about the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Service in Citrix Cloud?
  • What does the logon/app enumeration flow look like?
  • What network ports do I need?

I’ve seen separate diagrams answering these questions, but they are usually buried in an appendix of a very long paper. I thought it would be nice to have a single source for this technical information, which is why I created the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Architecture Poster (PDF File)

Source Files

And I’m already anticipating your next question: Can we have the source Visio file?

Of course! I just added them to the Citrix Workspace Visio Stencil.

Change Log

  • October 9, 2018: Updated poster with the new product names (Citrix XenServer to Citrix Hypervisor, NetScaler Gateway to Gateway, XenApp and XenDesktop to Virtual Apps and Desktops)
  • October 4, 2017: Original poster released

Daniel (Follow on Twitter @djfeller)
Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop 7.15 VDI Handbook
XenApp Best Practices
XenApp Video

18 thoughts on “Virtual Apps and Desktops (XenApp and XenDesktop) Architecture Poster”

  4. There’s a typo in the “VM-Hosted App” section: “…desktop-based O, accessible…”.
    Thumbs up, incredible work of art.

    Like

  5. 4th item top left, Chang O to OS. When referring to calls to DB maybe include a plug for LHC too. This diagram is great ty!

    Like

  7. Dear Mr Feller,

    i am new to the Cloud world so forgive me if i say something stupid. i am a little confused about the difference between Azure host connection and AWS host connection. When using an AWS host connection, is it true that connection is traveling through the internet and Azure its traveling through express route or VPN Site to site. If that is the case then why AWS connecting differently than Azure? I just feel like citrix doesn’t have enough information on the differences.

    Like

    1. When you have XD/XA on-prem, your host connection to Azure and AWS are both over the internet and not Azure Express Route/AWS Direct Connect. The Delivery Controller is able to talk directly to both clouds. You can use MCS to deploy VMs in both clouds using this approach

      You might hear ppl talk about using Express Route / Direct Connect, but that is when you have apps/desktops running in Azure / AWS clouds and your data is on-prem.

      Like

      1. Thank so much about replying. however, i think i don’t fully understand your last statement. Do you mean if the user access the VDI in the Azure/AWS cloud from an on-site device they are router through the Express Route/Direct Connect tunnel?

        Like

      2. Thank so much about replying. however, i think i don’t fully understand your last statement. Do you mean if the user access the VDI in the Azure/AWS cloud from an on-site device they are router through the Express Route/Direct Connect tunnel?

        Like

      3. Couple of aspects, which explain the confusion
        1. Administrative: the controllers talk to Azure/AWS to deploy virtual desktops. No VPN/Express route needed.
        2. Users: endpoints connect to on-prem storefront to get list of resources. if they connect to Azure/AWS virtual desktops, you need a VPN/express route.

        however, if you use the XA/XD Service that is part of Citrix Cloud and use the NetScaler Service, you don’t need to setup VPNs/Express Routes for those user connections. The NetScaler unified gateway traffic goes through the cloud connector.

        Like

      4. Thank you. I was able to confirm that with Citrix. Client wanted an official answer from them. I appreciate your help.

        Like

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